Monday, February 10, 2014

Monday's Memories


When I was a young teen, I'd lay on my chenille covered bed and gaze out the windows or stare at the latest handsome movie star whose picture I'd torn out of a magazine and carefully taped to the wall.  I'd dream of faraway places and wonder if I'd ever escape the farm where it seemed like one day was just like the next.

Each morning, I'd hear my mother stir around and head down the hall to the kitchen where she'd fry bacon and eggs, make toast or sometimes biscuits and gravy.  Homemade jelly was always on the table to slather on those biscuits or toast.  When breakfast was finished, I'd get the job of either washing the breakfast dishes or more often than not, I'd be handed the dust mop and told to go mop the hardwood floors. That was a job I could make stretch almost until noon unless the woods called to me for further exploration.



When my chores were done, I'd go saddle up Star or Blaze and head down the lane and through the gate by the barn.  The horses were smart and I didn't even have to get off to open the gate, but just sidle up and reach down to unlatch it, ride through, push the gate closed and relatch.  Once I had the gate secure again, I'd nudge my horse into a gallop and ride to the furthest reaches of the farm.  Then I'd turn around and slowly make my way down the cattle paths into the woods where I often pulled up at a fallen log, tied up my horse, and sat down on the log to daydream.  I often wondered what life was like when you were an adult and could do what you wanted to.


I didn't think too much at that young age about gaining an education, my head was filled with fanciful dreams of someday riding in convertibles with cute guys or getting a job that took me to exciting places.  Those daydreams helped me to escape the mundane and sometimes lonely life on the farm.  Then I'd hear a bird call to his mate or hear a squirrel chattering about something and I'd get my head out of the clouds and come back to reality where I contemplated nature and all the delights of simple things. 

I truly loved nature, but sometimes it seemed like I was 2 halves of a whole with one half of me wanting to hurry up and be an adult and get out into the real world where there was surely more exciting things to do than sit on a log watching birds and squirrels or the occasional rabbit.  The other half was a little fearful of the outside world having been alone for much of the time in spite of having two brothers.  That young girl was quite content to be alone and listening to the sounds of nature with only her horse and dog for company.


Fast forward to today, the once young girl still has occasional daydreams, but has truly found contentment in loving the simple things in life. 


Until next time...

38 comments:

  1. I had almost the same daydreams, Cheryl, but I rode a bicycle, not a horse, and I'd daydream in a public park, usually sitting on the swings. I would have been envious of your having a horse to ride on! LIke every girl, I always wished I had my own horse...sigh.

    I always dreamed of getting married and having a family, and although I also had a career as a nurse, it was raising family that gave me the most joy and contentment. :)

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  2. I'm new to your blog,and I loved reading about your daydreams. What would life be without them. I still day dream, and my Mr France will ask me, where have I been in my mind. But that's just for me.

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  3. It is nice to daydream. Looking back you had a great life as a young woman. I enjoy nature and the simple things also. Enjoy your week ahead!

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  4. Loved hearing about your daydreams. I had similar ones. But then reality sets in and one grows up. But the daydreams linger.

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  5. I don't remember many dreams, except for the usual about getting married and having a family. My childhood was anything but calm and dreamlike...moving every three or four years as a military brat leaves one just hoping to fit in wherever one landed.

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  6. Morning Cheryl, you warmed my soul on this cold winter day, loved your post, Francine.

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  7. Oh I love your daydreams and your childhood sounds perfect to me. I live that life now and enjoy the wilderness and all it gives back. Oh what a wonderfully written story about what truly makes me smile. Hug B

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  8. It's a lovely post, Cheryl. I also had daydreams, but no horse, no bike to escape with. My daydreams took place in my bedroom. I know today, that is what made my creative side grow. I still have big dreams....and many have come true.

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  9. good morning, cheryl,
    what wonderful memories of your childhood you shared today. loved hearing about your daydreams. i still daydream, sometimes...helps me escape for a moment and be happy.

    gorgeous photos, too. i really like that last one. beautiful! but then all of these are beautiful.
    happy monday~

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  10. You sound a lot like me, Cheryl. Except I only had one brother AND a burro to ride. lol And my day dreaming spot was hidden behind the leaves as I perched up in an old maple tree. xo Diana

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  11. gorgeous cone flowers. i wish that we kids would stay kids & enjoy it. because i finally realized when i became a real adult - i think wait ... i am so not ready. don't really feel like an adult now. i want to be young ... not an oldie. ( :

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  12. Cheryl, you described us exactly. We love staying here on the farm and enjoying the cows and Mother Nature.

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  13. This Missouri girl's childhood sounded much like yours. Great memory.

    PS I had a light pink chenille bedspread. Ah, the good ole days.

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  14. I smiled when you said laid back on the chenille... i used to lay on my chenille spread with a book in my hands, reading was my escape from a really lonely life. no horses or dogs, just me and my 4 years younger brother... reading was and is my escape.

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  15. I guess we all thought when we grew up we could do what we want to do. But oh, to have those carefree days of youth. Your childhood was much different from mine. But we're both dreamers! Sweet hugs!

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  16. Daydreams add a little sugar to our day. I still daydream....not about the things that used to be important, but now....my daydreams are more about the simple things.
    Enjoyed this post....Simple things are the sweetest..
    Have a blessed day..

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  17. you lived an ideal - and, of course, didn't realize it at the time. :) so glad you know it now.

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  18. I guess most kids are in a hurry to grow up Funny how we all imagined we could do what we wanted to when we became adults.

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  19. Dreamy dreams, Cheryl. I'm so glad that God didn't see fit to send you to Hong Kong or something. Do you still ride sometimes?

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  20. Growing up on a farm forms great memories. You are proof of that. Thanks for the memories.

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  21. Gorgeous pictures, lovely colors of the flowers and so cute bird :)
    Have a nice week !

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  22. I just love this post. You have explained my children exactly. They too get anxious to grow up and become an adult. I try my best to let them know they are a child for such a short time and to enjoy slower times and get outdoors. Sometimes they understand, and, sometimes they don't. I will read this post to them. It is so beautiful. xoxo Jen

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  23. Beautiful post both in words and in pictures. I think we all had out dreams,but in the end,enjoying life has so much to do with our attitude.Sounds to me like you are choosing joy.

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  24. I feel so much joy and contentment right now in my life!! A real sense of peace and a real sense of who I am!!

    I enjoyed your images today!!

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  25. Oh, I loved this post because even though I didn't grow up on a farm, I could still see myself in this recollection of your younger days. The simple things and the beauty of God's creation...that's right where I find my joy too! I just loved this :)

    Blessings,
    Debby

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  26. Cheryl
    You were so blessed with what sounds like an idyllic childhood!
    I often say that I wish I could've skipped those teenage years and enjoyed life more and worried about empty things less.
    I, too, love living a simple life and find joy in the beautiful God given gifts!
    You did a wonderful job writing this!!

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  27. I was mainly content on the farm...hated leaving it when I moved up here to Indiana. I don't think I was truly settled here till we had our children.

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  28. Cheryl, what a sweet post! I can picture it all so clearly. I did not grow up on a farm but I did love the animals that I saw/owned. It seems that there was more time to daydream back then.

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  29. We grew up in a different time and it was good. We just didn't know it.

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  30. You sound so much like me...except for the horse! 😉 Even though I always wanted one! I would saddle up and ride my friends horse! Guess so many of us are alike in that we dream and wonder....only to enjoy the safety of what we already have! (Beautiful photos!)

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  31. Good morning Cheryl,
    Thank you for this wonderful post!
    Loved reading about your daydreams, and childhood memories.

    I can tell that you are content, and that you feel blessed with the life you have.
    Even now, far removed from daydreams of long ago, I want to be a person that lives in gratitude and contentment for the life I've been blessed with.
    Thank you for reminding me of that.

    Smiles :)
    K.

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  32. p.s Of course you may use a picture from my blog post.
    Thanks for the consideration :)

    Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.

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  33. This is very beautiful. You know I didn't grow up on a farm, but my memories are very similar to yours in as far as what you've just written. :) I remember getting bored (no siblings in the house), but everything was okay as soon as I was outside cloud gazing, or watching squirrels. Or even putting coins on the RR tracks to be smooshed, lol, but that's a whole different story. ;)

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  34. What a lovely post! How wonderful to find contentment in the simple things.

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  35. Reading this post, reminded me of me. I didn't grow up on a farm, but my grandparents had a farm in northern Utah, and I loved being there and living the farm life for the time we were there. I loved this post girl!

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  36. Love this, Cheryl. I, too, spent lots of time alone with my dog and horse... Lots of good daydreams. But, most of all... a deep appreciation of nature and being outside, which has never left me. That seems to be very true for you, too. Funny, how life turns out when we grow up. ;) blessings and hugs ~ tanna

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  37. Ah, that brought back memories of my own! Chenille bedspread at my aunt's house. Loved that thing. And most of my daydreaming was done during history class. lol Such a nice post, Cheryl!

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  38. What a very lovely post. I think our lives were somewhat a like. I didn't live on the farm; but my Dad was a farmer and rancher. I also had too older brothers. I loved reading this story it did scatter up some memories for me.
    Blessings for this one!

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